Local quilter competes internationally

By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com

A Joan Kolostian quilt

Calabasas quilter Joan Kolostian, who’s a retired high school art teacher, says her quilts are more than padded coverlets for a bed. Her quilts are art. One of her latest works, "Daffydils," was selected to be shown in the recent 2004 American Quilter’s Society Quilt Exposition.

While Kolostian didn’t proceed beyond the semifinals in the international competition, being invited to the event was a huge feat, according to Meredith Schroeder, president of the American Quilter’s Society.

"Quilting requires dedication, skill and ingenious talent," Schroeder said. "The quilts represented at the Quilt Exposition are some of the best in the world."

Kolostian said she was surprised that the judges of the exposition chose her quilt for the competition.

"One of the reasons that it amazed me that I was even selected as a semifinalist in this contest was because the piece that I submitted had painted areas in it," Kolostian said. "I’m personally interested in the area between paintings and fiber work. The reason I was astounded at being picked for this was because most of the other pieces that were picked were much more conventional."

Kolostian considers herself first and foremost an artist. But for almost 20 years, she’s been a member of the San Fernando Valley Quilt Association and has taken on the name "quilter."

"But I have a degree in art," Kolostian said. "I taught art in L.A. city schools for a number of years, and when I retired from teaching, I started experimenting with my paintings. At one point I was stuffing my paintings." Kolostian would paint a design on a canvas and then, to add dimension, she would put a backing on the canvas and stuff it.

"I eventually thought, ‘This is ridiculous. Instead of painting canvases and stuffing them, why don’t I use cloth?’ And so that’s when I got involved with the quilt association," Kolostian said. "I learned a great deal there."

Kolostian said she enjoys the challenges of quilting. She’s made at least 60 quilts, each piece taking about six to eight weeks to complete.

"It’s pretty intense work," Kolostian said. "When I finish a quilt, I’m usually exhausted. My fingers are exhausted, my eyes are exhausted—I’m drained."

Kolostian doesn’t use her creations as your ordinary quilt.

"Mostly what I do now are wall tapestries," the quilter said. "I’ve shown them at quilting shows. But I really would like to have an art show of just my work—intact. In other words, I don’t want to have to look for my pieces. I mean, if I sell them to someone, it’s always with the proviso that when and if I need them, I can display them."

Kolostian received her master’s degree in art from Cal State Los Angeles. She taught art at Pierce College for about four years. She says she’s proud to be a quilter. Quilting, she said, is like jazz: it’s one of America’s very own art forms.